Careers Policy

Aims

All individual students should have high quality, impartial careers guidance to encourage them to be well-informed when making subject and career decisions.

All students should participate in a range of activities to develop a range of employability skills, preparing them for a working life which is suitable for them.

We want toinspire our students to overcome barriers, achieve social mobility and to believe that there should be no limit to their aspirations.

Policy Statement

Careers Education, Information and Guidance (CEIAG) at Moat Community College is an integral part of our preparation of all students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain. All CEIAG is impartial and unbiased.

We endeavour to follow the guidelines set out by the Department of Education in their latest advice and documentation.

Overview

At Moat, we have a multi-faceted approach to careers-related learning. There are progressive elements of careers education from years 7 to 11. These include specialist careers-based lessons in years 8 and 10. In addition to this the tutorial programme supports years 7, 9 and 11 with their careers-based education.

In addition to the education within lessons and the tutorial programme, we provide further careers content to inspire our students, including: assemblies, visits, visiting speakers, work experience and the use of alumni to work with current students.

It is our vision that careers information, education and advice have influence in all areas of the curriculum.

Equal Opportunities

Careers Interviews

Careers interviews are conducted using a combination of specialists from Connexions and qualified internal staff. All year 11 students are assured an interview. In addition, some year 8, 9 and 10 students may also be interviewed. Vulnerable students are given priority. Referral may be made from a member of staff e.g. Year Achievement Coordinator or from a need assessment during careers lessons. Students are also free to request an interview.

Quality Assurance

We endeavour to map and review careers education towards a CDI recommended framework. It is our intention to pursue an external quality award to further strengthen our good practice. As part of this process we reflect on the recommended 8 Gatsby benchmarks (Gatsby report, Good Career Guidance, 2015).

Careers Education & Information, Advice & Guidance

As a school we have a statutory and moral duty to provide students with careers information, advice and guidance. We aim to provide students with the skills and attributes required to prepare them for the world of work. This will be achieved through a range of activities and sources to allow them to make informed decisions regarding their options, further education, higher education, apprenticeships and their future career pathways. During their time at Moat, students will also have access to impartial information, advice and guidance.Entitlement Statement

Year 7

Students will receive an introduction to look at their skills, qualities and achievements and will write a personal statement. Careers work will be delivered largely during tutorials.

There may be the opportunity to visit local universities to take part in a widening participation event.

Year 8

Students will continue to develop confidence in their skills and qualities, building on the work done in Year 7. They will look at the realities of job advertisements and the changing world of work. In addition, they will have the opportunity to examine local labour market information and explore jobs of the future. Students will use ICT packages such as Kudos and National Careers Service to consider the qualification options for studying after year 8. All students will begin to learn and practice skills needed for interviews. Careers work will be delivered through PDE lessons.

Students will receive information from professionals to help them decide on which options they would like to select for their GCSE courses.

Students can request an impartial 1:1 careers interview

Year 9

Students will continue to develop confidence in their skills and qualities, building on the work done in Years 7 & 8. They will have extensive use of U-Explore. This will help them to research more thoroughly the types of careers they may be interested in. Careers work will be delivered largely during tutorials.

There may be the opportunity to visit local universities for a widening participation event.

Year 10

Students will investigate choices open to them for when they leave Moat. They will look at the different post-16 providers and explore which may suit them best. Students will be introduced to qualification frameworks (RQF and FHEQ) to help them understand the range of academic and vocational qualifications that may be available, as well as the requirements to access these courses. They will develop their interview skills with local employers and create a CV. In addition to this, they will be introduced to the UCAS application process.

Students will research selected careers using ICT packages and a range of websites in order to produce a detailed career action plan.

Students will learn a range of financial literacy skills, from understanding student finances to pay slips and state benefits, including the bursary.

All students will be expected to take part in a two-week work placement, which will develop and allow them to practice their employability skills in a very real way by being part of the world of work. Preparing for this placement will require them to: make formal telephone calls, be interviewed, set and fulfil targets as well as understand health and safety and rights in the work place.

Careers work will be delivered through PDE lessons.

There may be the opportunity to visit local universities for a widening participation event.

Year 11

Students will be supported to make their application on UCAS progress for year 12 or apply for an apprenticeship. Events will be arranged for them to speak to local providers and gather information about the variety of choices open to them, including colleges/sixth form and apprenticeships. Students will be notified of open days and events at local post 16 providers. They will be expected to attend, preferably with a parent/carer.